Dealing with a Freeloading Coworker: AITA for Setting Boundaries?

Some people treat one good deed like it comes with a subscription plan, and this coworker is doing exactly that. OP didn’t ask for anything in return the first time, just offered a ride because his car broke down and it was on their way.

But that “one-time favor” turned into daily pick-ups, no gas money, and OP getting stuck being late because the coworker “wasn’t ready.” When OP finally drew the line, the coworker flipped the script, calling OP selfish to other coworkers, while they insisted it “doesn’t cost a lot.”

Now OP is stuck wondering if one boundary was too harsh, or if the freeloading was always the real issue.

Original Post

So here’s the deal. I drive to work every day, and a while back my coworker’s car broke down.

I gave him a ride once because, you know, I felt bad and it was on my way anyway. No big deal.

But then it just… never stopped. Like, now he basically expects me to pick him up every single day.

He doesn’t offer gas money, he’s made me late a couple of times because he wasn’t ready, and honestly it’s starting to p**s me off. I finally told him I’m not his personal Uber and he needs to figure something out.

He got super mad and apparently told other people at work that I’m selfish. A couple of coworkers even said I should just suck it up since it “doesn’t cost a lot.” And also he goes he helped me a lot but I don’t remember I got help from him a lot to be honest.

I only asked him if he had extra pen to borrow once. That’s all!

he was lying too. I don’t think it’s fair though.

I was trying to help one time, not sign up to be his chauffeur forever. But now I’m wondering if I was too harsh.

AITA for cutting him off?

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This also echoes the OP resentful that dad gave valuable tools to an estranged half-brother.

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It started with OP giving him a ride once, and then that broken-down car somehow became OP’s daily commute problem.

The real tension hit when OP got late multiple times because the coworker wasn’t ready, and he still wasn’t offering gas money.

When OP told him he’s not a personal Uber, the coworker didn’t just get upset, he started recruiting coworkers to call OP selfish.

Even the “but I helped you once” argument falls flat since OP only remembers borrowing a pen, not a whole bunch of rides in return.

What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!

Nobody wants to be someone else’s free chauffeur, especially when the “favor” keeps showing up every single morning.

Before you decide how to handle “fairness,” read this sibling inheritance split debate, where OP weighs equal sharing against dad’s wishes: WIBTA for Sharing Equally?